Clip assembly for an automotive vehicle

ABSTRACT

A clip assembly presents indicia on an interior panel of a vehicle. The clip assembly has a face plate having indicia thereon and a base for mounting the clip assembly to the interior panel. The face plate has at least two barbed posts. The base has a contour which is asymmetrical in at least one direction. The base engages with a complementarily shaped recess on the interior panel such that the base is received therein in only one orientation. The base has at least two complementary apertures receiving the posts. The apertures and the posts are constructed and arranged such that the face plate engages the base through the interior panel in only one orientation relative thereto, enabling the face plate to be attached to the interior panel presenting the indicia in a predetermined readable orientation.

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No.60/147,245 filed Aug. 5, 1999.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The subject invention relates to a clip, badge or emblem having indiciathereon, which clip, badge or emblem is integrally mounted within anautomotive vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Airbags are placed within the interior of a vehicle to provide addedprotection to an occupant. The automobile manufacturer frequentlyrequires that a message, such as “SRS” and/or “AIRBAG”, be placed withinthe interior of the vehicle over the position of the airbag to alert theoccupant to the location of the airbag. These airbag messages may beintegrally molded into the interior of the vehicle. Some interiorcomponents, however, do not allow for an integrally molded message, i.e.headliners. An emblem is typically attached to these components. Theemblem is either a heat transfer label or a pressure sensitive adhesivelabel. Both of these types of emblems require specialized equipment andmay detach from the component upon deployment of the airbag.

A simple badge or clip could be provided. The badge or clip will haveimprinted or molded thereon the requisite indicia. However, prior artclips are generally symmetrical about both the longitudinal andtransverse axes. As a result, such clips or badges may be installed withthe indicia inverted, a result which is highly undesirable.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The disadvantages of the prior art may be overcome by providing a clipassembly which is mounted in a predetermined orientation to an interiorpanel of a vehicle. The clip assembly has a face plate having indiciathereon and a base for mounting the clip assembly to the interior panel.The face plate has at least two barbed posts. The base has a contourwhich is asymmetrical in at least one direction. The base engages with acomplementarily shaped recess on the interior panel such that the baseis received therein in only one orientation. The base has at least twocomplementary apertures receiving the posts. The apertures and the postsare constructed and arranged such that the face plate engages the basethrough the interior panel in only one orientation relative thereto,enabling the face plate to be attached to the interior panel presentingthe indicia in the predetermined readable orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as thesame becomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clip assembly in accordance with thesubject invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base of the clip assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the clip assembly taken along line3—3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a face plate of a second embodiment of theclip assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of another embodiment clip assembly ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of the base; and

FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiments of the face plate complementary tothe base of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, a clip assembly for anautomotive vehicle (not shown) is generally shown at 10. The clipassembly 10 preferably mounts to an interior vehicle trim cover 12 suchas a headliner. The clip assembly 10 is preferably positioned within theinterior of the vehicle near the location of an airbag restraint system(not shown). The clip assembly 10 includes some type of indicia 14, suchas “SRS AIRBAG”, to alert an occupant of the location of the airbag.During deployment of the airbag, the clip assembly 10 remains attachedto the interior component, i.e., the headliner, of the vehicle in orderto reduce the likelihood of injury to the occupant.

The clip assembly 10 includes a face plate 16 and a base 18. The base 18preferably abuts an outer surface of the trim cover 12 and the faceplate 16 abuts an inner surface of the trim cover 12 such that the trimcover 12 is sandwiched between the plate 16 and base 18.

References to “inner” and “outer” refer to relative positioning within avehicle. “Inner” refers to the interior of the vehicle.

The face plate 16 has two inwardly projecting posts 22, 24. Each of theposts 22, 24 has a tapered leading edge 26 and a plurality of biasedbarbs 28 extending therefrom. The barbs 28 are biased to allow insertionand prevent removal of the posts 22, 24. Preferably, each post 22, 24has a different cross-sectional configuration which ensures properpositioning and mounting of the plate 16 relative to the base 18.Preferably, one of the posts 22, 24 has a circular configuration and theother of posts 22, 24 has a rectangular configuration.

The inner surface 20 includes indicia 14 which is illustrated as raisedlettering. The indicia 14 may be recessed lettering, a decal, imprinted,painted or otherwise placed upon the inner surface 20 without deviatingfrom the scope of the subject invention.

The base 18, which is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, has a main body 32with an outwardly extending peripheral flange 30. The body 32 preferablyhas two contoured apertures 34, 36 for receiving and retaining the twocomplementary posts 22, 24. Specifically, he base 18 has a circularaperture 34 and a rectangular aperture 36 corresponding to the circularpost 22 and rectangular post 24. The apertures 34, 36 may also have atapered leading edge (not numbered) which provides efficient insertionof the posts 22, 24. As appreciated, the apertures 34, 36 may be of anysuitable design which correspond to the shape of the posts 22, 24.

The base 18 is contoured to have at least one extent, eitherlongitudinal or transverse, which is asymmetrical. In the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, longitudinal edge 33 of the main body 32and longitudinal edge 31 of the flange are arcuate, whereas the oppositeedges 35 and 37 are straight.

Preferably, face plate 16 and base 18 are injection molded using aplastic material.

To install the clip assembly 10, a recess 50 is cut or formed into thetrim cover 12. The recess 50 is complementary to the shaping of the base18. By being complementary in shape, base 18 may only be inserted intothe recess 50 in one orientation. In normal manufacturing processes forthe trim cover, the formation of the recess is performed under computercontrol. Thus, the recess 50 will always have the correct orientation.The main body 32 of the base 18 is then oriented within the recess 50.An installer aligns the circular post 22 and rectangular post 24 of theface plate 16 with the circular aperture 34 and rectangular aperture 36,respectfully. The rectangular post 24 cannot fit within the circularaperture 34. Hence, the plate 16 has only one orientation relative tothe base 18. The installer pushes on the plate 16 to snap fit the clipassembly 10 together until the plate 16 abuts the inner surface of thetrim cover material 12. The pushing of the plate 16 drives the posts 22,24 into biased engagement with the base 18. Specifically, the barbs 28of each post 22, 24 engages each corresponding aperture 34, 36 to securethe plate 16 to the base 18. The plate 16 and base 18 are now lockedinto position with the trim cover 12.

Referring to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of the face plate isillustrated. Face plate 116 has at least two pairs of posts 122, 124with outwardly extending barbs. The posts 122, 124 are arranged suchthat it can be attached to the base 18 in only one orientation.

Referring to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of the base 118 isillustrated. The body 132 has side walls 133 and 135 which are taperedat different slopes. The recess 50 of the trim cover 12 iscomplementarily contoured. Thus, the base 118 may only be inserted intothe recess 50 in one orientation. The mating face plate 16 can only beattached to the base 118 in one orientation relative to the base 118.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, an alternative embodiment of the clipassembly 10 is shown which illustrates a different design of the posts338 and apertures 340. Specifically, each of the posts 338 andcorresponding apertures 340 have a rectangular configuration which areplaced perpendicular to each other.

The preferred embodiment has been described in terms of at least twoposts 22, 24. However, it is now apparent to those skilled in the artthat the two posts could be integrated together to form a single post,provided the post enables the face plate 16 to be attached to the base18 in only one orientation.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is tobe understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to bein the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. It isnow apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications andvariations of the present invention are possible in light of the aboveteachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clip assembly for presenting indicia on aninterior panel of a vehicle, said clip assembly comprising: a face platehaving indicia thereon, said face plate having at least two barbedposts, a base having a contour which is asymmetrical in at least onedirection, said base engagable with a complementarily shaped recess onsaid interior panel such that the base is received therein in only oneorientation, said base having at least two complementary aperturesreceiving said posts, said apertures and said posts constructed andarranged such that the face plate engages said base through saidinterior panel in only one orientation relative thereto, enabling theface plate to be attached to the interior panel presenting said indiciain a predetermined orientation.
 2. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 1wherein said base has a body having an extent having an arcuate side andan opposite straight side.
 3. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 2wherein one of said posts has a circular cross section and the other ofsaid posts has a rectangular cross section.
 4. A clip assembly asclaimed in claim 3 wherein said indicia is alphanumeric.
 5. A clipassembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said predetermined orientation isa readable orientation.
 6. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 2 whereinsaid posts each has a rectangular cross section and said posts extendgenerally perpendicular to each other.
 7. A clip assembly as claimed inclaim 6 wherein said indicia is alphanumeric.
 8. A clip assembly asclaimed in claim 7 wherein said predetermined orientation is a readableorientation.
 9. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said basehas a body having asymmetrically tapered sides.
 10. A clip assembly asclaimed in claim 1 wherein one of said posts has a circular crosssection and the other of said posts has a rectangular cross section. 11.A clip assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said indicia isalphanumeric.
 12. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidpredetermined orientation is a readable orientation.
 13. A clip assemblyas claimed in claim 10 wherein said posts each has a rectangular crosssection and said posts extend generally perpendicular to each other. 14.A clip assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein said indicia isalphanumeric.
 15. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein saidpredetermined orientation is a readable orientation.